Stop motion for looms



Nov. 13, 1934. v. c. HASSOLD STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 1 gwwx wfv Tm w R E-H Nov. 13, 1934.

V. C. l- IASSOLD STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 16, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sum 1 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 .STATES STQP MOTION FOR LOOMS Victor C. Hasscld, Chestnut Hill, Pa., assignor to Steel lieddle Manufacturing Company, Philadelphra, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 16, 1932, Serial No. 628,964

14.- Claims.

My invention relates to stop motions for looms, and relates more particularly to that type of stop motion in which an electrical circuit is employed in effecting the actuation of the knock-off mechanism which brings the loom to a stop.

Heretofore, various arrangements have been suggested for completing an electrical circuit whenever a warp end breaks or becomes unduly slack. These devices have been of various types, but the present invention is more particularly concerned with that type of stop motion in which the shed forming heddles are used as part of the detector mechanism.

In some of such devices it is necessary, and in others advisable, to supply the current to the harness frame in which the heddles are mounted only when the harness frame is in its lowermost shedding position, the reasons for which are well known to those familiar with such devices.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide improved means for controlling an electrical circuit so that the same will be completed, and the loom automatically stopped thereby, in the event of a warp end breaking or becoming unduly slack.

With the foregoing object in view, my invention contemplates the provision, in the loom harness frame in which the heddles are mounted, of a detector rod mounted in the frame but electrically insulated therefrom, and means controlled by the shed forming heddles for permitting current to be supplied to said detector rod only when the harness frame is in the lowermost position, whereby a circuit will be completed whenever a warp end becomes broken or unduly slack, and the heddle for controlling the samev drops and contacts with the detector rod while the harness frame is in the lowered position.

My invention further contemplates in a warp stop motion of the electrical type, the provision of detector means which will be inexpensive in construction, and free of the difliculties experienced in the use of the composite detector rods heretofore suggested for such purpose.

My invention also contemplates the provision of a novel form of heddle of the type which is primarily used for shedding the warp but also forms part of the detector device of a warp stop motion.

It will be found that my invention is particularly adaptable for use in connection with loom harness in which the shed forming heddles are made of thin fiat strips of metal or wire.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from porting rod, an auxiliary rod for controlling a 7 contact making device, and a detector rod;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the relative positions of said members when the har ness frame is in the lowered postion;

Fig. i is a similar view, illustrating the relative positions of said members when the harness frame is in the lowered position and the warp end Y controlled by the heddle there shown is; broken or slack, permitting the heddle to drop to make an electrical contact with the detector rod;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the upper portion of the harness frame, illustrating the device for making contact to supply current to the detector rod when the harness frame is in the lowered position; I a

Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which the lower ends of the heddles are mounted on the lower supporting rod; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one arrangement of circuits, and the parts controlling the same and controlled thereby, in connection with which the device of my present invention is adaptable for use.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein contained are illustrative merely, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention. I

Referring to the drawings, the harness frame there shown is of a common and. well known type, comprising top and bottom rails '10 and 11, respectively, preferably made of wood, connected at their ends by end struts 12 and 13,-preferably made of metal. The heddle supporting rods 14 and 15 are mounted in the end struts in the cus tornary manner.

An auxiliary bar 16 is also mounted in the end struts 12 and 13. This auxiliary bar 16 is prefer-' ably positioned in the frame immediately below the upper supporting rod 14, but it will of course 1 be understood that the same may be located in any'other suitable portion of the harness frame if desired.

The ends of the auxiliary bar 16 extend through elongated slots 17 in the end struts 12 and 13, so that said auxiliary bar may be permitted a rising and falling movement with respect to the heddle supporting rods, in the manner and for the purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

A detector rod 18 is fixedly mounted in the end struts 12 and 13, being electrically insulated therefrom by means of suitable insulating bushings 19.

Each of the heddles 20 is preferably made of a thin flat strip of metal or wire, having a central warp eye 21 of the type usually provided therein, and elongated slots 22 and 23 near the ends thereof, for mounting the same on the supporting rods 14 and 15, respectively.

The auxiliary bar 16 may extend through the slots 22 in the heddles 20, provided for mounting said heddles on the upper supporting rod 14. The slots 22 and 23 are of a length sufficient to permit the heddles to have a range of vertical movement with respect to the supporting rods 14 and 15 as the harness frame is raised and lowered, this movement being imparted to the heddles by the tension of the warp ends as the shed is formed.

.Each of the heddles 20 is provided with an offset portion, as at 24, to provide a shoulder, preferably having an inclined under edge 25 adapted to engage and contact with the detector rod 18 "when the harness frame is in the lowered position, and the warp end controlled thereby is broken or unduly slack, as shown in Fig. 4 of the side ofthe end strut 12 of the frame, there is 29 serves to secure the screw 27 with the head 28 mounted a metallic block 26, in which a screw 2'7 is threaded, whereby the head 28 thereof may be adjusted with, respect to the block 26. A lock nut thereof in the proper adjusted position.

The lower end of a pin 30 is engaged by the head 28 of the screw 27, The pin 30 is made of insulating material, and is slidably mounted in ablock 31, also made of insulating material. The block 31 is-secured by means of a screw 32 to the end strut 12 of the frame. I The upper end of the pin 30 engages the free end of a leaf spring 33, which is adapted when raised to contact with the lower end of a screw 34. The screw 34 is threaded in a block 35 of insulating material, which is secured to the end strut 12 of the frame by means of a screw 36. The contact screw 34 which is threadedin the block 35 is provided with a lock nut 3'7 detector rod 18.

A strip 39 of insulating material is interposed between the metallic strip-38 and the end strut 12 of theframe, so as to prevent the current from passing directly from the strip 38 to the end strut 70 Astrip 40 of insulating material is also ini terposed betweenthe block 26, which is carried at the end of the auxiliary bar 16, and the metallic strip 38.

. The leaf spring 33, the free end of which is adapte o brou t in contact with the lower end of the screw 34 by means of the pin 30, is secured between the blocks 31 and 35, and a portion thereof extends to the outside of the block 35, where it is secured by means of screws 41 and 42. The screw 41 may be employed for the purpose of connecting one of the circuit wires which will be hereinafter referred to, whereby current'may be supplied to the leaf spring 33.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 8 of the drawings, there is there shown a typical arrangement of circuits, and the parts controlling the same and controlled thereby, in connection with which the devices shown in Figs. 1 to '7 of the drawings are adaptable for use, although it will of course be understood that various other arrangements of circuits may be employed if desired.

' As there shown, represents a source of electrical energy, such for example as a battery, one terminal of which is connected by wire 51 to a stationary contact member 52 mounted upon, but suitably insulated from, .a portion of the loom frame (not shown) adjacent the knock-oil lever;

The knock-off lever 53 carries a spring arm 54, adapted in the normal operation of the loom to engage the contact member 52. The knock-off lever 53 is grounded or electrically connected to the main frame of the loom, this grounding being indicated by wire 55 extending to ground 56.

The other terminal of the battery is connected 105 by wire 5'? to one of the metallic parts of the frame, such for example as the end strut 12, by means of a screw 58 (see Figs. 1 and 6). A shunt line 59 extends from the line 57 to one of the contacts 60 of a relay 61. The other contact 62 of the 110 relay 61 is connected by wire 63 to one end of the coil 64 of an electromagnet. The other end of the coil 64 is grounded'or electrically connected to the main frame of the loom, this'grounding being indicated by wire 65 and ground 66.

Adjacent the pole 67 of the electromagnet is a suitable armature 68, carried by a pivoted lever 69, whereby said lever will be actuated when the current passes through the coil 64 of the electromagnet. The free end of the lever 69 is connected 120 by means of a rod '70 to a movable dog '71 carried by a shipper rod '72.

The dog '71 is adapted to be raised when the armature 68 is attracted to the pole piece 67 of the electromagnet, to cause said dog '71 to be engaged by a lug '73 carried by the lay '74, and thereby cause the shipper rod '72 to be actuated by the movement of the lay whenever the electromagnet is energized. The shipper rod '72 also carries a lug '75, which is adapted to engage and actuate the knock-off lever 53 when said shipper rod is thus actuated.

The leaf spring 33 which is adapted to be brought in contact with the screw 34, thereby to close the circuit at that point at the proper time, is electrically connected by wire 76 to one end of the coil '77 of the relay 61. The other end of the relay coil '77 is grounded or electrically connected to the main frame of the loom, this grounding being indicated by the wire '78 and ground '79. A shunt line 80 extends from the wire 76 to the contact bar 81 of the relay61.

The operation of the device may now be explained. It may first be pointed out that when the loom is functioning normally, the knock-off lever 53 will be in such position that the spring arm 54 carried thereby will be in contact with the member 52, whereby, if the circuit be otherwise established, the current may flow from one contact member 52, thence by spring arm 54, through the knock-off lever 53, and thence by wire to ground 56.

When, however, the knock-off lever 53 is in the position assumed when the loom is stopped, the spring arm 54 will be separated from the contact member 52, thereby maintaining the circuit open whenever the loom is not operating.

When the loom is functioning normally, the circuit will be open at the harness frame, but in the event of certain contingencies a number of alter native paths for the current are provided, as will hereinafter appear.

When a harness frame descends to its lowermost shedding position, the tension imparted by the warp ends controlled by the heddles in said frame will cause the entire set of heddles therein to be raised, this action being permitted by reason of the elongation of the slots 22 and and 23 in the heddles 20. However, the lower end of the slot 22 in the upper portion of each heddle is so located that it will engage the auxiliary bar 16 and slightly raise the same.

When the auxiliary bar 16 is thus raised by the heddles, the head 28 of the screw 27, which is carried by the block 26 at the end of said bar 16, will engage the lower end of the pin 30 which is mounted in the insulating block 31. This pin 30 will in turn engage the free end of the leaf spring 33, and cause the same to engage the lower end of the screw 34 and establish an electrical con nection therewith.

It may here be noted, however, that the circuit will be normally open at this time, by reason of the offset portions 24 of the heddles 20 being raised out of engagement with the detector rod 18 (see Fig. 3). Should, however, one of the warp ends be broken or unduly slack, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the knockoff lever 53 is in the proper position as hereinbefore described, the current will pass from the terminal of the battery 50, by wire 57 to the end strut 12, thence by the supporting rods 14 and 15, through. the dropped or fallen heddle to the detector rod 18, thence passing by the metallic strip 38 to the screw 34 which is mounted in the insulating block 35, thence by leaf spring 33, which has been raised as hereinbefore described to the contacting position, thence by wire 76 to the coil 77 of the relay 61, and thence by wire 78 to ground 79.

When the coil 77 of the relay 61 is thus energized, the contact bar 81 will be raised, and the current will pass from line 59 to the contact 60 of the relay 61, thence by contact bar 81 to the contact 62, thence by wire 63 to the coil 64 of the electromagnet, passing by wire 65 to ground 66.

When the coil 64 of the electromagnet is thus energized, the armature 68 carried by the lever 69 will be attracted to the pole piece 67, whereby the rod 70 w ll be raised by the lever 69, causing the dog 71 carried by the shipper rod '72 to be raised in the path of the lug 73 carried by the lay 74.

As the lay moves to its rearward position, the lug 73, by reason of its engagement with the dog '71, will cause the shipper rod 72 to be actuated and thereby, through the lug 75, the knock-01f lever 53 will be actuated to bring the loom to a stop in the usual manner, at which time the circuit will be opened as hereinbefore described, by reason of the separation of the spring arm 54, carried by the knock-off lever 53, and the stationary contact member 52 to which the wire 51 extends from the battery 50.

When the circuit is first closed, as aforesaid, by a dropped heddle, this closing of the circuit is only momentary, that is to say, while the harness frame remains in its lowermost position. However, it is desirable that the electromagnet be maintained energized until the lug '73 carried by the lay 74 has had an opportunity to engage the dog 71 carried by the shipper rod 72, and for this purpose the shunt line 80, extending from line 76 to the contact bar 81 of the relay 61, is provided. It will be seen that by this arrangement, after the coil 77 of the relay 61 has once been energized, the energization of the same. will be maintained by the current flowing from line 57, through line 59 to contact 60 of the relay 61, thence from the contact bar 81 thereof, through line to line 76, thence passing by said line 76 to the coil 77 of the relay 61, and thence through wire 78 to the ground 79 thereof.

It will be noted that the means for controlling the circuits, whereby the current is supplied to the detector rod only at the time the harness frame is in its lowermost position, is contained entirely within the harness frame, and that the use of external contact members mounted on the loom frames at the sides of the harness frames is dispensed with.

Furthermore, the arrangement is such that the detector mechanism, as well as the means for controlling the current supplied thereto, may be mounted in the frame above the shed, whereby the same will be readily accessible, and will not become fouled with the lint which falls from the warp as the same is manipulated in the shedding.

The detector rod is of inexpensive construction, being merely a simple rod, and the difficulties heretofore experienced with the composite detector rods are eliminated.

I claim: r V

1. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; shed forming heddles mounted therein; a bar in said frame mounted to have a range of vertical movement with respect to said frame, said bar being engaged by the heddles so as to be raised with respect to the frame when said frame'is lowered; an electric switch carried by the frame on the exterior thereof and controlled by said bar; an electric detector circuit in which said switch is included; and means for stopping the loom controlled by said circuit.

2. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; shed forming heddles mounted in said frame, each of said heddles having a central warp eyethrough which awarp end extends; means for mounting said heddles whereby they may be raised and lowered with respect to the frame by the tension of the warp; a bar independentof said heddle mounting means and having a range of vertical movement with respect to said frame, said bar being engaged by the heddles so as to .be raised with respect to the frame when said frame is lowered; an electric switch carried by the harness frame. on the exterior thereof adapted to be closed by said bar when the same is raised by the heddles; an electric detector circuit in which said switch is included; and means for stopping the loom controlled by said circuit.

3. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; shed forming heddles mounted in said frame, each of said heddles having a central warp eye through which a warp end extends; means for mounting said heddles whereby they may be raised and lowered with respect to the frame by the tension of the'warp; "an auxiliary bar posi-, tioned in the upper portion of the frame andhavinga range of vertical movement withrespect to said frame, said bar being engaged by thev heddles so as to be raised with respect to the frame when said frame is lowered; an electric switch carried by the harness frame on the exterior thereof adapted to be closed by said auxiliary bar when the same is raised by the heddles; an electric detector circuit in which said switch is included; and means for stopping the loop controlled by said circuit."

4. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; shed forming heddles mounted in said frame, each of said heddles having a central warp eye through which a warp end extends; means for mounting said heddles whereby they may be raised and lowered with respect to the frame by the tension of the warp; a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame; each of the heddles having a portion adapted to contact with said detector rod when in a lowered position with respect to the frame; an auxiliary bar mounted in the frame so asto have a range of vertical movement with respect thereto, said bar being engaged by the heddles so as to be raised with respect to the frame when said frame is, lowered; an electricswitch carried by the harness frame adapted to be closed by said auxiliary bar when the same is raised by the heddles; an electric circuit inwhich said switch and detector rod are included; and means for stopping the loom controlled by said circuit.

' 5. In a warp stopmotion for looms, a harness frame; shed forming heddles mounted in said frame, each of said heddles having a central warp eye through which a warp end extends; meansfor mounting said heddles whereby they may be raised and lowered with respect to the frame by the tension of the warp; a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame; each of the heddles having an offset portion with an inclined edge adapted to contact with said detector rod when the heddle is in a lowered position with respect to the frame; an auxiliary bar mounted in the frame so as to have a range of vertical movement with respect thereto, said bar being engaged by the heddles so as to be raised with respect to the frame when saidframe is lowered; an electric switch carried by the harness frame adapted to be closed by said auxiliary bar when the same is raised by the heddles; an electric'circuit in which said switch and detector rod are included; and means for stopping the loom controlled by said i circuit.

- 6. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; upper and lower heddle'supporting rods mounted therein; she'd forming heddles mounted on said rods, each of said heddleshaving a central warp eye and a slot adjacent each end thereof for mounting the same on the supporting rods, said slots being elongated whereby the heddles may be raisedand lowered with respect to .the supporting rods by the tension of the warp; an

' auxiliary bar positioned in the frame adjacent cluded; and, means for stoppinggthe. loom controlled by said circuit.

7. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; upper and lower heddle supporting rods mounted therein; shed forming heddles mounted on said rods, each of said heddles having a central warp eye and a slot adjacent each end thereof for mounting the same on the supporting rods, said slots being elongated whereby the heddles may be raised and lowered with respect to the supporting rods by the tension of the warp; an

. auxiliary bar mounted in the frame so as to have ar'ange of vertical movement with respect to the supporting rods, said bar being engaged by the heddles so as to be raised with respect to the supporting rods when the frame is lowered; an electric switch carried by the harness frame adapted to be closed by said auxiliary bar when the same is raised by the heddles; an electric detector circuit in which said switch is included; and. means for stopping the loom controlled by said circuit.

8. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; upper and lower heddle supporting rods mounted therein; shed forming heddles mounted on said rods, each of said heddles having a central warp eye and a slot adjacent each end thereof for mounting the same on the supporting rods, said slots being elongated whereby the heddles maybe raised and lowered with respect to the supporting rods by the tension of the warp; a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame; each of the heddles having a portion adapted to contact with said detector rod when in a lowered position with respect to the supporting rods; an auxiliary bar mounted in the frame so asto have a range of vertical movement with respect to the supporting rods, said bar being engaged by the heddles so as to be raised with respect to the. supporting rods when the frame is lowered; an electric switch carried by the harness frame adapted to be closed by said auxiliary bar when the same is raised by the heddles; an electric circuit in which said switch and detector rod are included; and means for stopping the loom controlled'by said circuit. e

9. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; upper and-lower heddle supporting rods mounted therein; shed forming heddles mounted on said rods, each of said heddles having a central warp eye and a slot adjacent each end thereof for mounting the same on the supporting rods, saidslots being elongated whereby the heddles may be raised andlowered with respect to the supporting rods by the tension of the warp; a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame; each of the heddles having an offset portion with an inclined edge adapted to contact with said detector rodwhen the heddle is in. a lowered position with respect to the supporting rods; an auxiliary bar mounted in the frame so as to have a range of vertical movement with respect to the supporting rods, said bar being engaged by the heddles so as to be raised with respect to the supporting rods when the frame is lowered; an electric switch carried by the harness frame adapted to be closed by said auxiliary bar when the same is raised by the heddles; an electric circuit in which said switch and detector rod are ineluded; and means for stopping theloorn conwill normally be raised with respect to the frame by the tension of the warp when the frame is lowered; and a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame apart from the heddle supporting means; each of the heddles having at one portion thereof an inclined external edge adapted to contact with the detector rod to establish an electrical circuit through a dropped heddle when the warp end controlled thereby is broken or unduly slack.

11. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; warp shedding heddles mounted therein; means for supporting said heddles whereby they will normally be raised with respect to the frame by the tension of the warp when the frame is lowered; and a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame apart from the heddle supporting means; each of the heddles having an offset portion in the body thereof with an inclined external edge adapted to contact with the detector rod to establish an electrical circuit through a dropped heddle when the warp end controlled thereby is broken or unduly slack.

12. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; heddle supporting rods mounted therein; warp shedding heddles made of thin flat metal or wire, said heddles being mounted on said rods by means of elongated slots provided in the ends of the heddles whereby said heddles will normally be raised with respect to said rods by the tension of the warp when the frame is lowered; and a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame apart from the heddle supporting rods each of the' heddles having an offset portion in the body thereof with an inclined external edge adapted to contact with the detector rod to establish an electrical circuit through a dropped heddle when the warp end controlled thereby is broken or unduly slack.

13. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; heddle supporting rods mounted therein; warp shedding heddles made of thin fiat metal or wire, said heddles being mounted on said rods by means of elongated slots provided in the ends of the heddles whereby said heddles will normally be raised with respect to said rods by the tension of the warp when the frame is lowered; and a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame apart from the heddle supporting rods; each of the heddles having an offset portion in the upper part of the body thereof with an inclined external edge adapted to contact with the detector rod to establish an electrical circuit through a dropped heddle when the warp end controlled thereby is broken or unduly slack.

14. In a warp stop motion for looms, a harness frame; heddle supporting rods mounted therein; warp shedding heddles made of thin fiat metal or wire, said heddles being mounted on said rods by means of elongated slots provided in the ends of the heddles whereby said heddles Will normally be raised with respect to said rods by the tension of the warp when the frame is lowered; a detector rod fixedly mounted in the frame apart from the heddle supporting rods; each of the heddles having an offset portion in the upper part of the body thereof having an inclined external edge adapted to contact with the detector rod to establish an electrical circuit through a dropped heddle when the warp end controlled thereby is broken or unduly slack; and means mounted in the frame and actuated by the heddles for closing said circuit only when the frame is lowered.

VICTOR C. HASSOLD. 

